Unspoken Rules (Rules 2)

“We have to leave. Now!” Kendrick starts running around like a headless chicken in a miserable attempt to gather all of our belongings.

“Are you serious right now? He’s right here. You can’t stop me from seeing him for the rest of my life. What are we going to do? Escape out the window?”

“We will if that’s what it takes,” Kendrick says.

“You do know I can hear you, right?”

Kendrick jumps at Haze’s voice and stares at the door.

Oops.

Well, we do now.

What is he doing here? He can’t be here. He lost the fight. He should be miles away.

“I just want a minute,” Haze pleads.

“We had a deal, Adams,” Kendrick says, his voiced raised, and heads for my room to get my things. Again, how he plans for us to escape without using the door, I have no idea.

“I know, I know. Listen…” Haze pauses, his voice raspy. “I want to make another deal.”

“Not an option.”

“Kendrick, you know damn well I can pick the lock if I want to. I’m not here to start shit. I just want to talk to her.”

That’s why he’s here.

He came for me.

That came out wrong.

This finally seems to be enough for Kendrick to admit defeat. He knows Haze is right. He’ll find a way in. It’s just a matter of time. He takes a very hesitant step toward the door and slowly unlocks it. I can’t help but hold my breath.

There he is.

In the doorway…

With his hands deep in his pockets, his tousled brown hair a perfect mess, and the bags under his eyes displaying his lack of sleep. Even in this state, he manages to look like the guy up there dropped the whole “hotness” package into the mix while creating him.

That’s it. I can’t lie to myself anymore. The past month changed nothing.

I still have feelings for an idiot.

“I tried to keep my word. I did.”

He turns his head, and our eyes meet for the first time since the night I blacked out in his arms.

“But I can’t.”

A billion unwelcomed emotions infiltrate my heart.

“How the hell did you find us?” Kendrick asks.

“Gee, I don’t know. Staying undercover 101: buy a burner, pay in cash, and maybe don’t spend all your time out in public. It took me fifteen minutes to track you idiots.” He stops and assesses the living room. “Whose place is this anyway?”

“Don’t change the subject. What are you doing here? What do you want?”

“What part of ‘it took me fifteen minutes to find you’ didn’t register? She’s obviously not safe with you. Do you have any idea how many people want her head? She’s coming with me.”